ÉCRIRE EN FRANÇAIS. Histoires de langues, voyages de mots 

From June 21 to October 10, at 101 boulevard Raspail, discover the stories of 100 authors from around the world, all of whom have chosen the French language as their means of expression and transmission. 
Through quotations from their works and previously unpublished written and video testimonials, you'll be plunged into the heart of a multitude of journeys and experiences highlighted by Bernard Magnier and Sabyl Ghoussoub and illustrated by Raphaelle Macaron 🎨

"They were born in Buenos-Aires, Tokyo or Kabul, in Dakar, Beirut or Saigon. In China, Syria, Bulgaria or Iran... In Moroni, Trois Boutiques or Stalowa Wola... Places, countries and lands with no immediate ties to the French language. Helped by fate, chance, personal or collective history, inspired by their dramas, their loves, their encounters, these authors and their words have traveled. They all write in French. A French language inherited, imposed or chosen, with which they have a pragmatic, amorous, conflictual, passionate and creative relationship. A "mother tongue", "grandmother tongue", "natural", "vital"... Their language! But why? How do they take hold of this language? How did they receive it? How did they take it? How did they learn it? How did they shake it up, enrich it, blend it? These are the itineraries, these traces, that are brought together here."

Bernard Magnier - exhibition curator

Opening times and access

Free admission
Alliance française de Paris - 101 Boulevard Raspail, 75006 Paris

Du lundi au vendredi -  11h - 17h30
L'exposition est fermée le 15 août.

Ouvertures exceptionnelles avec visites guidées et gratuites

The origins of this exhibition 

A cycle of literary encounters entitled "En français dans le texte" offered since 2017 by the Alliance française de Paris.

In 7 years, this cycle has welcomed 45 guests from 26 countries at 34 meetings. It has attracted a total of over 20,000 spectators from 95 countries, in person, and online.

4 exhibition themes

Visits and tours

Guided tours

• Three guided tours will be led by the exhibition curator. Don't miss these exceptional opportunities during the special Saturday openings (July 20 and August 17).

Mediation visits

• Tailor-made tours are available for associations and partners, specifically designed for audiences learning French. To book, contact us at  culture@alliancefr.org .

Guided discovery tours 

• At the entrance, you'll find 2 fun exhibition trail booklets that can be used independently to discover the exhibition from a different angle.
  

Exhibition curated by :

Concept and choice of texts:  Bernard Magnier, in collaboration with Sabyl Ghoussoub

Art direction and illustrations: Raphaëlle Macaron

Graphics: Sunra Thompson

Discover the authors and writers    who contributed to this exhibition

Zeina Abirached 
Marguerite Abouet 
Mohammed Aïssaoui
Jean-Marie Adiaffi 
Laura Alcoba 
Vassilis Alexakis 
Feurat Alani 
Salah Al Hamdani 
Eva Almassy 
Pauline Alphen 
Kebir Ammi 
Samuel Beckett 
Yahia Belaskri 
Tahar Ben Jellou
Mbareck Ould Beyrouk
Hemley Boum 
Doan Bui 
Estelle-Sarah Bulle 
Ying Chen 
François Cheng 
Ook Chung 
Velibor Čolić 
Raphaël Confiant 
Florent Couao-Zotti
Louis-Philippe Dalembert
Ananda Devi 
Ousmane Diarra 
Boubacar Boris Diop
Negar Djavadi 
Abdelkader Djemaï
Elisa Shua Dusapin 
Sedef Ecer 
Soeuf Elbadawi 
Yara El-Ghadban 
Axel Gauvin 

Gauz 
Sabyl Ghoussoub 
Aliona Gloukhova 
Simonetta Greggio 
Elitza Gueorguieva 
Jadd Hilal 
L. Horňáková-Civade 
Loo Hui Phang 
Fawaz Hussain 
Nancy Huston 
Katrina Kalda 
Kateb Yacine 
Karim Kattan 
Vénus Khoury Ghata 
Ahmadou Kourouma 
Julia Kristeva 
Agota Kristof 
Milan Kundera 
Abdellatif Laâbi 
Sony Labou Tansi 
Dany Laferrière 
J.M.G. Le Clézio 
Jonathan Littell 
Amin Maalouf 
Alain Mabanckou 
Charif Majdalani 
Maryam Madjidi 
Andrei Makine 
Yamen Manai 
Rita Mestokosho 
Shmuel T. Meyer 
Léonora Miano 
Akira Mizubayashi 
Tierno Monénembo 

Wajdi Mouawad
Fiston Mwanza Mujila 
Bessa Myftiu 
Naïri Nahapétian 
Blaise Ndala 
M-A Oho-Bambe 
Polina Panassenko
Pia Petersen 
Titaua Peu 
Gisèle Pineau 
Denis Pourawa 
Emmelie Prophète
Jean-luc Raharimanana
Johary Ravaloson 
Atiq Rahimi 
Shan Sa 
Rodney Saint-Éloi 
Boualem Sansal 
Mohamed Mbougar Sarr Riad Sattouf 
Ryoko Sekiguchi 
Jorge Semprun 
Shumona Sinha 
Leïla Slimani 
Omar Y. Souleimane
Marzena Sowa 
Mani Soleymanlou
Brina Svit 
Véronique Tadjo 
Irina Teodorescu 
Sami Tchak 
Kim Thúy 
Mateï Visniec 
Abdourahman Waberi
Wei-Wei 
Nina Yargeko
Chabname Zariâb 
Fawzia Zouari

Places and access

Alliance Française de Paris - located at the 101 Boulevard Raspail, 75006 Paris

• Metro 4 : stop - Saint Placide

• Metro 12 : stop - Notre-Dame-des-Champs

• Bus : lines 39, 68, 89, 94, 95, 96

• Vélib : close station 6006 (Notre-Dame-des-Champs - Stanislas)

Sponsors and partners

Because this Festival couldn't exist without their help.

Major sponsors

Partners

avec le soutien de la délégation générale à la langue française et aux langues de France du ministère de la Culture

The Institution

FAQ

- May I come with an animal ?
      
The Alliance Française de Paris welcomes pets, but they are not accepted, except for guide dogs.


- I have a disability. Can I attend events?

Access is provided for people with reduced mobility.

- Can I use my camera?

Only professional cameras are allowed (except for accredited persons who have applied in advance).

- What items are prohibited?

Here is the list of prohibited items in application of the Vigipirate plan:

• large bags,

• travel backpacks, suitcases,

• helmets,

• firearms, bladed weapons (even imitation),

• any sharp object: knives, scissors, etc,
  

• drones, 

• all glass and plastic bottles and opaque containers such as thermoses and cans,

• aerosols and pressurized bottles,

• toxic or chemical products,

• flammables liquids

• fireworks and by-products (firecrackers, fireworks, flares, etc.).

Only clear 0.5-liter water bottles are allowed, as well as water bottles whose contents can be checked.

- Can't find the answer you're looking for?

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